Walmart speaks out against proposed transmission lines

Company files petition to intervene against power line plan

Walmart is speaking out against a proposed plan from Southwestern Electric Power Company, or SWEPCO, to build nearly 50 miles of transmission line.

The transmission line would run through Benton County into Carroll County.

In a petition to intervene drafted by the Walmart Real Estate Business Trust, the company said the transmission line would have a negative effect on property owned by the company.

Walmart owns about 126 acres of land that could be affected by the transmission line.

In the petition to intervene one attorney wrote, “Walmart’s interest for the future use and development of the Site are unique, which include the construction of a retail store, associated parking lot, and landscaping.”

40/29 News contacted the attorney who filed that request. He said he could not comment on the case.

In a statement from Walmart, the company said it reviews potential real estate investments all the time, and that there are no immediate plans to develop the land affected by the transmission lines.

One local attorney explained what could happen next for Walmart and others affected by the transmission line.

“The utility companies will reach out to the individual owners and try to make a deal,” said Garrett Ham, a legal attorney. “If they don’t reach a deal, they’ll go through the condemnation process. At that point, they can take it without your permission, but you will be compensated for the fair value of the land taken.”

Ham has a law firm in Bentonville. He said if SWEPCO can prove the need for the transmission line, it will be difficult to stop construction.

“If you’re going to fight a utility line easement, it is going to be an uphill battle,” he said. “It doesn’t mean that you’re not going to win, that doesn’t mean that it’s 100 percent that the utility company will be successful in their endeavor.”

Business and homeowners would not be the only ones affected by the transmission line.

“I ride out here about four times a week,” said Robert Garcia, who rides his bike on the trails off Highway 71, just down the road from where the transmission line would be located.

“To cut through these trees, it wouldn’t be good,” said Garcia. “There’s some bike trails in there, too. It would be bad for the bike scene.”

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